My tibial plateau fracture surgery/recovery process has me going insane!!

[Ayapook1]

I recently had a 4 wheeling accident which caused me to have lower knee surgery. This has been an extremely rough year for me. Having to be on crutches since Dec 31, 2018 is driving me insane. My anxiety is through the roof and I have support, but it's not enough. Also not working has affected my income dramatically. Every morning I wake up angry and miserable knowing that I am shackled to these crutches. I have recovered fairly quickly, however my surgeon/physician insists I stay on crutches for 2 extra months so I heal properly. I plan on seeing a therapist very soon to resolve some of these issues that I have been having. I am studying for my real estate license which is giving me more motivation and structure. Everyday I just wake up crying and tend to throughout the day not knowing why. I am typically a very bubbly and happy person, I am also accident prone so this isn't my 1st serious injury. I can say this has been one of the worst. Especially the recovery process, I wake up with loads of anxiety every day all day. I will gladly take advice and keep pushing myself everyday!

Thanks Aya.

[Kkimm]

Hi Aya

I do feel for you as it must be so stressful to have gone through this injury and gruelling recovery process. Not surprisingly you are suffering from stress as a result.

You are doing so many things right and I am sure you will make a full recovery and have a great career ahead of you.

Do not be too hard on yourself and try to let yourself realise how well you have done so far in what would be for anyone, a very tough process. A stress reaction to what you have gone through is very normal. It will be important to try not to dwell on the negatives. You are through the worst and are well on the way to a full recovery.

In the mornings, after we first wake, we have a surge or cortisol, the stress hormone for fight or flight. Our primitive ancestors found it useful so they woke up prepared for anything, being eaten by that lion that had appeared in the mouth of the cave etc. We too can try to use it to get prepared for the challenges of the day but it can cause stressful feelings in the mornings.

I suffer from an anxiety disorder as a result of two life traumas and the mornings are my worse time. After 20 months I am nearly fully recovered and find life very fulfilling again but my few remaining stress symptoms reappear most mornings. I am lucky as I am retired and just work a couple of days a month on committee work, which is very relaxing, compared to my previous professional role, so I take my time getting up and do useful but relaxing things in the mornings which seem to help. I also try to have a run or fast walk each morning if I can, as the excercise stimulates feel good chemicals and can take away my symptoms fully. You are restricted by having to use crutches and no wonder this takes its toll on you. It is really important that you find something to do that will occupy your day while you are off work. Taking up some sort of creative activity or setting yourself studying or reading challenges will help alot I am sure. You have a challenging career ahead of you so perhaps you could see this break as a positive time to get ahead on your studies etc. Some sort of relaxation techniques would also be very useful. You say you are generally a positive thinker, so with the help of relaxation activities such as meditation, mindfulness, and anything else you enjoy that you can still do, you will recover. It will be important to try to do something useful or enjoyable and some of relaxation everyday however.

If however, despite helping yourself to think positively and practising relaxation daily, you still find yourself remaining anxious and tearful, do consult a doctor about this, so you can receive therapy and/or medication to support you in your psychological well-being. Your mind has taken a knock as well as your body and may need some help to recover and there is no shame in needing antidepressants and therapy such as CBT to support you. I do not feel I would have recovered so easily without Venlafaxine, an antidepressant, despite the fact that I too had always seen myself as a non anxious, positive thinker before I became ill.

My very best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Kim